| abstract | - Gary Allan (1946-2001) was a Canadian educator. Gary is a graduate of Nelson High School in Burlington, Ontario. Mr Allan had a lifelong passion for learning. Gary began his career path as a chef and then entered the teaching profession in 1969, first in Hamilton and then at General Brock High School in Burlington in 1976, becoming the first Technical Director at E.C. Drury High School in Milton. In 1983 Gary was appointed first Head of the Self-Reliant Learning Program, an innovation designed for students who were having difficulty in school, with programs where learning was tailored to the individual’s needs. Under Gary’s leadership the program grew and the Milton site was soon added. Gary understood that students entered the programs for a variety of reasons and with diverse needs. If they needed something that was not offered, he was determined to find a way to help them and thus Gary and the staff committed to “do whatever it takes” to encourage their students. Adults and adolescents alike responded to the opportunity to return to school and an extraordinary learning environment was nurtured. In 1990 the Self-Reliant sites combined with the Adult Learner Program to form the Adult High School. In an effort to provide service to a greater spectrum of learners, Gary shepherded the expansion of programs into all regions of Halton, including Acton, Burlington, Georgetown, Milton, and Oakville, introducing programs for Teen Moms and the forerunner to STEP, Futures. As an entrepreneur, he developed partnerships with Human Resources Development Canada to provide training programs for displaced workers. In co-operation with Halton Region, the On Track program was started for social assistance recipients. By 1998 failing health forced Gary to take a leave from his position as Program Manager of the Adult High School. Sadly, Gary passed away in December of 2001.
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